“I mean, seriously!” she said, as they reached The Fat Lady. “Isn’t it enough that my grandparents were slaughtered and my dad killed, without my own brothers being murdered!”

“In fairness, I don’t think your mum would go as far as Avada Kedavraing them,” said Terri, stepping through the portrait hole after Lily and giving Rose a hand. “Bat Bogey, maybe.”

“Pfft, I could do that myself!” scoffed Lily, chucking down her bag and throwing herself into an armchair.

“Look,” said Chuck, trying to sooth his frazzled girlfriend, “As you mentioned, your family’s been through a lot of crap; two brothers having a bout of fisticuffs isn’t really the end of the world, is it?”

“Oh what do you know! Nark.”

*

“So,” said Rose, looking awkwardly between Nathan and Scorpius, “I guess I’ll see you both later…”

“Wh-,” said Nathan, looking surprised, “Where are you going?”

“Um, my Common Room?” said Rose, looking nervous. “I need a shower.”

“No worries,” said Scorpius, nodding. “I’m feeling a bit dirty too after our night together. See you at dinner.”

Rose’s mouth fell open as he walked away.

Feeling Nathan’s eyes burning into her skull, she said hastily, “He meant dirty as in unclean.”

He didn’t look like he believed her.

*

“I’m going for a bath,” said Finch, dumping his rucksack on his bed and grabbing his towel.

“God, you girl,” said Hugo, stripping off his dirty clothes and chucking them at Razor. “Real men have showers.”

“Well, why the fuck aren’t you having a bath then?” snapped Finch, before storming out and slamming the door hard behind him.

Chuck continued frowning for a moment… and then suddenly, he realised.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh.”

*

Finch returned an hour later, wrapped in a towel, his skin red from the heat of his bath.

“Calmed down now, have you?” asked Hugo, looking up from his comic.

Finch took a deep breath.

“I have.”

Hugo closed his comic.

“And?” he pushed.

Finch looked ashamed.

“And I’m sorry.”

“For…?”

Finch rolled his eyes.

“For swearing at you – I was out of order.”

Hugo let a moment pass… then he smiled.

“You’re forgiven.”

Finch looked relieved.

“Thank you. I was just feeling a bit… annoyed, still. About Barrat.”

Hugo frowned.

“Why? What’d he do?”

Finch looked awkward.

“Well, nothing… recently. But, you know – we did just spend the last few years having to watch our backs every day, in case Barrat or one of his ‘friends’ decided to do us in. I guess I’m just not quite as comfortable as you are with him yet.”

Hugo put his comic book down, looking serious.

“You don’t like Barrat?” he asked, his frown deepening. “I thought you two were getting along?”

“We are… sort of. I mean, we can talk and he doesn’t want to smash my nose up anymore… I don’t think.”

“Well, then what’s the problem?”

“It’s…”

But Finch couldn’t say it.

“It’s… it’s nothing. It’s me. I suppose I just need to give myself more time – relax a little.”

Hugo nodded.

“Yeah. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea, mate. After all, you wouldn’t wanna miss the beach trip he’s planned for Christmas, would you?”

“Say what now?”

*

Al took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

There was a scuffling sound – then it opened.

“Al!”

“Hello Jessie.”

*

“So,” said Scorpius, as he closed the door to James’ room, “What was that all about?”

“She knows about you and Jessie?” asked Scorpius, leaning against the wall opposite him.

“Yeah, she-” began James, before coming to an abrupt halt. “Wait, what do you mean, ‘me and Jessie’? There’s no me and Jessie!”

“Isn’t there?” asked Scorpius, raising his eyebrows.

“No!” James tried to protest, his cheeks beginning to redden.

“No?” repeated Scorpius, his eyebrows still raised.

“Why is everything you’re saying a question!” cried James, getting up off the bed, looking riled. “I didn’t ask you in here, Malfoy, so if you’re not going to say something constructive, then sod off!”

Scorpius’ eyebrows rose higher.

“Well, Potter, if you let me know what’s actually going on then I might be able to help you…”